FEDERATION CYNOLOGIQUE INTERNATIONALE (FCI) (AISBL)

Place Albert 1er, 13, B - 6530 Thuin (Belgique) Tél: ++32.71.59.12.38 – Fax: ++32.71.59.22.29, email:

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GENERAL REGULATIONS FOR

PARTICIPATION IN OBEDIENCE TESTS

AND COMPETITIONS IN

THE INTERNATIONAL OBEDIENCE CLASS

WITH C.A.C.I.OB


CONTENTS

IRules on participation, management and judging

IIPractical arrangements and equipment

IIIAwards

IVGeneral regulations and directions for performing and judging the exercises

VExercises in the international obedience class: performance and judging

VISupplemental drawings

VIIArranging and judging FCI Euro and World Winner Obedience competitions

Obedience (OB) training teaches a dog how to act in a co-operative and controlled way. Emphasis should be put on establishing good contact between the dog and the handler and on achieving the dog’s willingness to obey even when at distance from the handler. Handler and dog should display a good overall relationship.

IRULES ON PARTICIPATION, MANAGEMENT AND JUDGING

1. Eligibility to participate in an international obedience class

To participate in an international obedience class, or in an EW or WW championship, it is required that the dog be at least 15 months of age and registered in a studbook recognised by the FCI.

It is up to every country to decide what national obedience classes are recognised and what requirements need to be fulfilled before a dog is allowed to compete in an international obedience class. To participate in an international obedience competition, however, the handler and the dog together should at least once have passed the previous highest obedience class in their own country.

If an obedience competition is arranged in association with a dog show, it is not necessary that the dog is entered in the dog show.

Dogs that suffer from contagious diseases or have hookworms, scabies or any other vermin, or dogs that are aggressive, blind or deaf may not participate in international obedience competitions.

Dogs with docked tails or cropped ears are to be admitted in accordance with the legal regulations of their home countries and those of the country where the competition takes place.

Bitches in heat are allowed to compete but must perform last. They must be kept off the competition premises and nearby surroundings until all other dogs have completed their exercises.

Bitches that have given birth less than eight weeks before the competition date and bitches expected to give birth within four weeks must be excluded.

If necessary, the judge should check the dogs outside the ring before the start of the competition.

2. Eligibility to judge international obedience competitions

Judges for obedience competitions should be licensed by the kennel club of their own country.

Ineligibility due to the likelihood of bias

Judges are not permitted to judge family members as handlers, or dogs owned by themselves, family members or relatives such as children, parents, grandparents, grandchildren, brothers, sisters or in-laws. Neither are they allowed to judge household members or residents of their household.

A dog may not enter a competition if the judge of the competition has bred the dog or had the dog for training or if the dog has been living in the same household within one year of the competition.

3. Chief steward

A chief steward must be appointed for the competition. The chief steward must have the appropriate qualifications. If competitors from abroad enter the competition, the steward must be able to conduct the exercises in English or a language mutually agreed upon.

If the exercises are divided to be judged by two or more judges, there should be an equal number of stewards, so that each ring will have at least one steward.

4. Management of the competition

Obedience competitions are under the management of the (referee) judge of the day and the chief steward.

If incidents occur that are not dealt with in these regulations and directions, the judge decides how to proceed or how to evaluate.

5. Handler’s obligations

A handler’s obligations as a competitor start when the handler enters the competition premises and end after the final prize-giving ceremony. Handlers must follow the rules and directions as instructed. Handlers are expected to be on their best behaviour and appropriately dressed.

The judge may disqualify a handler from the competition if he or she does not abide by the rules or behaves in an unseemly way. The judge’s decision is final and no competitor shall impugn the decisions of the judge.

Handlers should report their presence in the ring 30 minutes before the competition begins.

It is forbidden to punish the dog. Barbed or electric collars and other constraining devices or means are forbidden.

The handler should have the dog on the left side during and between the exercises. If there is a physical reason or disability, the handler is allowed to have the dog on the right side during or between the exercises. The competitor or team leader of this combination must discuss the arrangement with the referee judge before the start of the competition, however. All judges concerned must be informed and the effect this has on evaluating the performances must be agreed on if there are several judges involved. The exceptional arrangements should be justified and should not be such that they cause disturbance to other dogs and competitors. For example, if a competitor is bound to a wheelchair, he or she should, in exercises 1 & 2, be placed at that end of the line where no other dog is passed than his or her own that is, he is first in line.

6. Dog’s behaviour / Disqualification

A dog that at any time, even after completing the exercises, bites, tries to bite, attacks or tries to attack people or other dogs, is disqualified from the competition. All points are lost even if the performance has already been completed. In a two-day event, the disqualification is valid also for the second day and thus the dog can not compete. The incident is noted in the dog’s working book and a report that must be sent to the kennel club that the dog represents and the kennel club of the arranging country.

7. Other regulations

When the competition ring is being built or has been built for the competition, a handler is not allowed to enter the competition ring together with the dog unless the steward has given permission.

In the group exercises (1 and 2), the minimum number of dogs in a group is three and the maximum six. In a competi tion where the number of dogs is not divisible by six, two of the groups may consist of seven dogs.

II PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS AND EQUIPMENT
Layout, number of competitors, size of the ring and equipment needed
  1. Layout of the competition

For FCI Euro and World Winner competitions as well as for all international competitions, the referee judge has the right, having consulted the organising committee, to decide in which order the exercises will be done during the competition and how the exercises are grouped together. The order should be the same for all competitors.

2. Number of competitors

It is recommended that a judge does not judge more than about four dogs per hour and not more than 25 dogs per day. If more than one judge is appointed, each judge judges the exercises appointed to him for all dogs entering.

3. Size of the obedience ring

The size of the obedience ring for an indoor competition should be at least 20 m x 30 m. When the competition is outdoors, the preferred size is at least 25 m x 40 m. A ring can be smaller if the exercises are divided among two or more rings and those exercises requiring less space are grouped together. A ring should be clearly marked. It is up to the judge to decide whether the ring size is acceptable or not.

4. Equipment

It is the responsibility of the organising committee to keep the regulations and instructions available at the competition premises.

A boarded hurdle approximately 1 m wide and adjustable in height from about 10 cm to 100 cm at intervals of 10 cm is required. (Ex 8) In contrast to an agility fence the hurdle should not have side wings.See Ch VI.

A sufficient number of markers and cones to indicate the places of performance must be available. The height of the markers and cones should be approx. 15 cm.

Charts by which the points awarded are shown must be available.

Yellow and red cards must be available, by which the judge can give a warning (yellow card) or indicate disqualification (red card).

Suitable retrieve articles:

  • Three sets of wooden dumbbells that differ in size (and weight) suitable for different sizes of breeds (small, medium and large). Each set includes three dumbbells of the same size. The maximum weight of the dumbbells of the largest set is approximately 450 g (Ex.7).
  • Metal dumbbells of three different sizes with a maximum weight of approx. 200 g for the largest. The size of the dumbbell should be in proportion to the size of breed. The handler can choose the preferred size, however (Ex. 8).
  • Wooden articles approx. 2 cm x 2 cm x 10 cm. The number of articles needed is six times the number of competing dogs (Ex. 9).
IIIAWARDS

It is recommended that the colours black – red – yellow be used on ribbons and rosettes to be awarded in obedience classes. Every dog that gets a prize in obedience should be awarded a black – red – yellow ribbon.

A red ribbon is awarded to winners of 1st prize256 – 320 points. Excellent

A blue ribbon is awarded to winners of 2nd prize224 – under 256 points. Very good

A yellow ribbon is awarded to winners of 3rd prize192 – under 224 points. Good

Other colours may be used according to the traditions of the hosting country.

A black – red – yellow rosette is awarded to the best 1st prize winner.

If two or more dogs end up with the same number of points and if it is desirable to have a final line-up, the results of exercises 3, 5 and 6 should be added together. If the addition gives the same results, these three exercises should be repeated.

A prize or a rosette is to be given to any dog that achieves the title international obedience champion on the day. Preferably, the colours should display the colours of obedience (black – red – yellow) and include the text “International Obedience Champion”. In addition to this the rosette may also display traditional colours indicating championship such as red and green [e.g. the basic rosette and stripes being green with the smaller rosettes on top displaying the colours of obedience (black – red – yellow)].

International Obedience Certificate CACIOB

The winning dog (with two testicles if a male) is awarded the CACIOB if it earns the first prize, and the second best dog (with similar restriction) is awarded the reserve CACIOB.

A prize or a rosette is to be given to the dog that is awarded the CACIOB and the one awarded reserve CACIOB. Preferably, the colours should display the colours of obedience (black – red - yellow) and include the colours indicating CACIOB (white) and reserve CACIOB (orange) [e.g., a basic rosette and stripes being white (orange) and the smaller rosettes on top being black – red – yellow colour]. The text CACIOB and reserve CACIOB should also be displayed.

International Obedience Champion

To obtain the title of International Obedience Champion, the dog must earn two CACIOBs in two different countries and achieve at least “Very Good” or better at 15 months or older in an FCI dog show. There must be at least one year and one day between the two CACIOBs.

IV GENERAL REGULATIONS AND DIRECTIONS FOR PERFORMING AND JUDGING THE EXERCISES

If not otherwise stated in the individual exercises, these general regulations and directions for performing the exercises and for judging them are applied to all exercises.

If incidents occur that are not covered in these regulations and directions, the judge decides how to proceed or how to evaluate. The judge’s decision is final and no competitor shall impugn the decisions of the judge.

Points awarded

The obedience performances are graded as follows:

0 – 5 – 5.5 – 6 – 6.5 – 7 – 7.5 – 8 – 8.5 – 9 – 9.5 – 10.

Disqualification leads to termination of the performance and loss of all points awarded. The dog may not continue with the remaining exercises of the competition.

Failing an exercise leads to loss of all points in the specific exercise. The dog may continue with the remaining exercises.

The yellow card indicates a warning. The judge can give a warning on the basis of the handler’s or dog’s actions. If the judge shows a yellow card twice disqualification follows.

The red card indicates disqualification.

Performing the exercises

  • The judge can choose in what order the exercises are performed. The order should be the same for all competitors.
  • The exercises begin and end with the dog in heel position. The heel position is defined as the sitting position at the handler’s left side.
  • The dog should be on the handler’s left side between the exercises. If a dog leaves the ring during or between the exercises it is are disqualified.
  • The handler must leave the dog’s leash outside the ring or at the steward’s table. This applies to all exercises.
  • All exercises begin when the steward has placed the handler and dog at the starting place and position and the handler has confirmed that they are ready to start. All exercises are over when the steward has announces “exercise ended”. It is not allowed to point out places and directions to the dog before or during exercises (other than those relating to the ongoing exercise, if such are allowed). Such activity will lead to failure of the exercise.
  • The command words given in these regulations are recommendations. Other sufficiently short words are acceptable.
  • Tit-bits or playing tools such as balls or toys are not allowed in the ring, neither during nor between exercises. If the judge observes that a competitor has or uses tit-bits or playing tools in the ring, he or she will be disqualified.
  • The handler is not allowed to touch the dog or stroke it or give other forms of encouragement during the exercises. Such behaviour will result in failure of the exercise. Slight encouragement (e.g., saying “well done” or giving one or two gentle pats is allowed after the exercise has been completed. In the case of excessive encouragement, enthusiastic inspiring, playing around, jumping into the arms of the handler, threading around the handler’s legs, etc., the judge will warn the competitor by showing a yellow card. In the case of a second incident the judge shows a red card and the dog is disqualified.
  • The judge has the right to halt an exercise if the dog shows obvious incapability to perform it. Such an exercise is failed.
  • The judge has the right to bar a dog from further participation in the competition if it isn’t functioning properly or if it is causing a disturbance by continuous barking or whining. In case of barking or whining the judge can give a first warning with the yellow card. If the behaviour continues the judge will disqualify the dog and show the red card. The same holds for continuous disturbance by barking or whining between exercises.
  • If the dog leaves the handler during an exercise (interrupts the exercise) and is out of control, the handler may call the dog once without leaving his or her position. If the dog returns to the handler on the first command, the judge will show a yellow card and the exercise is failed, but dog and handler can continue with the next exercise. If the dog does not return on the first command, dog and handler are disqualified. If the dog leaves a second time, disqualification follows.
  • If the dog leaves the handler between exercises the handler may call his dog once without leaving his position. If the dog returns the judge will show a yellow card. If the dog does not return or if it leaves a second time, disqualification follows.
  • In the recall exercise (Ex. 5) the dog is allowed to come and sit in front of the handler. The dog must then, on command (after permission from the steward), quickly take its heel position, passing the handler very closely.
  • In all retrieving exercises (Ex. 7, 8 and 9), the dog is allowed to sit in front of the handler and there deliver the article on command (after permission from the steward). The dog must then, on command (after permission from the steward), quickly take its heel position, passing the handler very closely.
  • In the retrieving and recall exercises, the judge does not need to know how it was intended that the exercise be performed with regards to taking the heel position directly or after sitting in front. If the exercise is elegantly performed, full points can be awarded regardless of what was intended.
  • In exercises where commands or signals are allowed, the handler must inform the judge before the exercise commences if signals will be used. This is not necessary if both commands and signals are allowed.

Judging the exercises

  • Judging of an exercise starts after the handler has confirmed readiness to the steward’s question “Are you ready?” Judging of an exercise ends when the steward announces “End of exercise”.
  • All extra commands, double commands, body language, etc., must be penalised. The general rule is that for a second command 2 points should be deducted and a third command fails the exercise (or a part of it).
  • A dog that barks, even occasionally in an exercise, should be penalised. Not more than 7 should be awarded in the case of occasional barking, and if the dog barks extensively or continuously the exercise is failed. If the barking is continuous and is repeated in several exercises the performance is disqualified. The same holds for whining.
  • If the handler takes steps when giving commands, the exercise is failed.
  • If a dog anticipates the command when starting the exercise, i.e. does not keep the heel position properly, not more than 8 points can be awarded.
  • If the dog leaves the handler after the exercise has started but before the command of the handler, the exercise is failed. There is no possibility to recall.
  • If the handler punishes the dog during the exercise, the exercise is failed. The judge may show a yellow card. If punishing can be interpreted as grave, during or between exercises, dog and handler are disqualified.
  • If the dog cleans itself during an exercise or between exercises it is disqualified.
V. EXERCISES IN THE INTERNATIONAL OBEDIENCE CLASS

Rules and instructions for the performance and judging of the exercises